Corset-fastening.



No. 785,685. PATENTED MAR. 21', 1905.

I H. W. THURLOW.

CORSET FASTENING.

. APPLICATION FILED DBO. 10. 1901.

Fi 5. F19. 1 Fi 2 UNITED STATES Patented Maren 21, 1905;

PATENT OFFICE.

CORSET-FASTENING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 785,685, dated March 21, 1905.

Application filed December 10, 1901. Serial No. 85,412.

To (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY WoRTHINeToN THURLOW, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Corset-Fastenings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements made in corset-fastenings of the kind or description comprising a stud-like member on one busk or corset-steel and a socket member on the other busk provided with a gripping device that engages and operates to hold the stud member within the socket.

The improvement constituting this invention consists in certain novel construction and combination of stud member, socket member, and spring-grip, the latter being adapted to confine the stud member in the socket under the lateral strains to which these fastenings are subjected and at the same time to yield readily under angular forces or strains applied in directions generally longitudinal of the corset-steel, as hereinafter more particularly described, and pointed out in the claim at the end of this specification.

Referring to the, drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of the upper end of the right busk of a pair of busks or corset-steels,showing two of the socket members, the kid or fabric covering the steel being broken away to expose the end of the socket member where it is riveted to the steel. Fig. 2 is a front view of the left busk carrying the stud members. Fig. 3 is a rear view of Fig. 1. Fig. at is a vertical section taken longitudinally through Fig. 1 on the line A B. Fig. 5 is a similar cross-section through Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a plan of the top plate of the socket member, and Fig. 7 a similar view of the base-plate of that member from which the top plate, Fig. 6, is removed. Fig. 8 is a plan of the springgrip removed from the base-plate, Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the base-plate.

The parts of this fastening are herein designated and referred to as the socket member a, the stud member 1;,and the springgrip 0.

The two busks are designated by the letters (Z and e.

The socket member is composed of a top plate and a base-plate, united by means of rims on the edges and flanges on the ends, in which are holes for rivets. The top plate ct of the socket member is formed with a depending rim 13 and with a flange 14 on one end, in which are the holes 15 for the rivets 16. The base-plate being of corresponding outline is formed with a standing rim 13 around the sides and the front end and is provided also with a flange 14* of the same dimensions as the flange 14 of the top plate and with rivetholes 15*.

hen the two parts a (t are placed together, the rim of the base-plate fits within and is covered by the depending rim of the top plate, and the two flanges 1A 1A then being in line with each other the rivets 16, that fasten the socket member on the busk, also serve to unite the two parts a (b composing the socket member.

In the base-plate is an aperture 4 to admit the head 5 of the stud member 6, and surrounding the aperture is a standing ring 6, which is formed either directly from the material of the base-plate itself or is a separate piece united to the base-plate. This ring 6 forms a socket to receive the head of the stud member when the latter is inserted through the aperture 4. It is united to the base-plate at two points directly opposite to each other on the horizontal axis G G; but at all other points the lower edge of the ring standing clear of the base-plate leaves slits or spaces 7 under the ring to admit the legs 9 of the spring. The last-named parts should be fitted to have free play laterally under the ring and at the same time to be held down by it, so as not to be drawn up by the stud member when that part is separated from the socket member.

The spring 0 is produced from a piece of spring-wire, such as piano-wire, of the proper stiffness and strength by bending it at the middle in a semicircle, so as to bring the two legs substantially parallel and equidistant from an imaginary axis, (indicated at G G, Figs. 7 and 8,) and finally bending each leg at a point 12 united to a straight shank by a neck 5' of reabout midway of its length inwardly upon itself, in this manner producing the straight outer members 10 and the inner members 9, lying between the outer members. These inner members form gripping members which when the spring is laid in place between the top plate and base-plate will extend across the aperture 4: on the baseplate. The bow of the spring should have approximately the same curvature as the rounded end of the baseplate. Both the bow and the straight outer members 10 should lit loosely and at the same time be confined within the space inclosed by the standing rim 13.

The stud member 6 is provided with an enlarged head 5 of the usual spherical shape duced. diameter, by which the member is fastened to the busk.

The head 5 has approximately the same diameter as the opening 4L and the ring 6, so as to fit closely in the latter part when the head is inserted through the aperture 4:. At such time the head 5 will slip easily into place as the socket member is brought down over the stud member, and forcing the spring-legs 9 apart the head will enter the ring 6 as the legs close upon the neck 5 below the head. Both legs or members of the spring that grip the neck of the stud member are free to yield laterally and spread apart with an equal extent of movement as well as to exert equal degree of pressure on the stud member after the head has passed beyond the spring and rests in the socket 6. In such operation also the outer members 10 of the spring have limited movement laterally, with the result of following or yielding to the lateral movement of the gripping-legs 9, thereby giving greater degree of resiliency to the legs 9 in their opening and closing movements.

In the operation of separating the two members of the fastening the stud member is readily detached by giving either member an angular movement by tilting it to one side or the other in a direction across the legs 9 or l transversely of the longitudinal axisindicated at G G, so that the head of the stud will be slightly rolled in the socket member instead of being pulled directly out of the socket in a direction at right angles to the plane of the socket member.

The stud member is readily detached from the socket member by giving it a lateral movement in that direction which is on the line of least resistance to the separation of the head from between the spring-legs, whereas under ordinary strains which the fastening is called upon to stand in all other directions without separating the legs 9 will not yield readily and the stud member will be confined in place in the socket.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A separable fastening for corset-busks, consisting of a stud member having a shank with a straight neck and an enlarged head thereon; and a socket member comprising a base-plate having a flat bottom and terminating at one end in a flange for securing it to the corset busk, and a rounded outer end, a standing rim on the said base-plate around the sides thereof, and an aperture in the bottom of the plate to admit the head of the stud member, the said socket member being provided with a standing rim concentric with the said aperture and also supported above said aperture clear of the said plate; and a top plate having a depending rim on the sides adapted to fit over the sides of the base-plate and provided with a flange on the inner end to lie over the corresponding fiange of the base-plate; the said plates. of the socket member being secured in place on the busk by rivets passing through the said flanges.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY WORTHINGTON THURLOW. \Vitnesses:

EDWARD E. OSBORN, M. REGNER. 

